US OPEN: Frances Tiafoe Advance into quarter finals after ending Rinky Hijikata’s run

Frances Tiafoe ended Australian Rinky Hijikata’s run in New York on Sunday when he produced an all-court display to triumph 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round.

The 2022 US OPEN semi-finalist demonstrated the magical touch that has helped him to a current career-high No. 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, pulling the World No. 110 from corner to corner. He also recovered from twice squandering a break advantage in the third set to advance to his third major quarter-final after two hours and three minutes.

“He has been quietly going through the draw and I had never played him before. When I broke in the first I really took off,” Tiafoe said. “I got a little sloppy at the end but happy to be through and happy to be in the quarter-finals.”

“He is ‘Bugs Bunny’. He has got crazy energy, great energy and he is going to come after me and I am going to come after him,” Tiafoe said of Shelton. “It is going to be a great battle and we are going to compete really hard. It will be in the big house and I plan to be in the semis.”

The 25-year-old, who was the first American since Andre Agassi (2002-’05) to reach the fourth round in New York for four consecutive years, will meet countryman Ben Shelton on Tuesday.

If Taylor Fritz overcomes Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker later on Sunday, it will be the first time three Americans have advanced to the quarter-finals since 2005. The last time two Americans reached the last eight was in 2011, when John Isner and Andy Roddick advanced to that stage.